The University of Vermont men's basketball team plays host to Maine in Wednesday's quarterfinal round of the America East playoffs. UVM is riding a five-game winning streak.(Photo: BRIAN JENKINS/for the Free Press)

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The Catamounts are winning again. They are playing better, more organized defense.

Nearly a month after enduring its toughest patch of the season, the University of Vermont men’s basketball team is thriving –– and surging into the America East Conference playoffs with confidence.

“I feel as good about this team as I’ve had about any team,” fifth-year UVM John Becker said. “I’m really enjoying coaching this team and enjoying these guys and how they are playing.

“It’s encouraging to be playing our best basketball at the end of the year.”

The Catamounts (19-12), winners of five straight after thumping regular-season champion Stony Brook 76-62 on Saturday night, begin tournament play at home Wednesday night against Maine (8-21). The 3-vs.6 quarterfinal matchup is scheduled for a 7:30 start time at Patrick Gym.

The league’s other three quarterfinal tilts –– Stony Brook-Maryland-Baltimore County, Albany-Hartford and New Hampshire-Binghamton –– are also set for Wednesday. The semifinals are scheduled for Monday night with the title game slated for March 12 on ESPN2. The tournament’s first two rounds will be streamed on ESPN3.com.

The Catamounts have enjoyed success in the conference tournament in the last decade-plus. They have won it five times (2003, 2004, 2005, 2010, 2012) and have the most wins among the eight-team field (32). UVM has also reached the semifinals in 13 of the last 14 years.

But UVM is not seeded first or second for just the third time in the last 15 years. Senior-led Stony Brook, regular-season champ for the fourth time in seven years, and three-time tournament champion Albany remain the favorites.

The Catamounts are gaining, though, and can appreciate this position as the third seed compared to the pressurized spots of the last few years.

“I think it’s interesting what expectations can do for the enjoyment factor. We’ve always been expected to win, expected to win the championship –– and that hasn’t changed ever internally,” Becker said. “Maybe I’ve just been around longer, but I’m excited this year, not nervous. I think the guys feel the same way.”

Senior Ethan O’Day has that sense, too, but understands this is his final chance at reaching the NCAA tournament.

“We know we are talented enough and we have a system that can win championships,” O’Day said. “Personally, as a senior, I feel a sense of urgency has to be there this time of year, can’t leave anything behind.”

The Cats haven’t left much behind since yielding 100 points in the loss to Lowell on Feb. 8. Since that defeat, UVM has averaged 83.6 points a game while shooting 53.2 percent from the floor. On the defensive end, the Cats are allowing 65.6 per clip during the five-game winning streak.

“I think we are coming together at the right time. The cohesiveness on defense has really come together, just listening to each other and listening to coaches,” O’Day said. “It’s starting to click right now. We are starting to see it come full circle in full games.”

How has UVM returned to playing its brand of defense? Adaptability.

The Cats are mixing their defensive schemes. Traditionally a man-to-man team under Becker, UVM has gone zone when needed. That was the case at Stony Brook, where the Catamounts held the Seawolves to below their season averages for points and field-goal percentage.

“I’m stubborn about things that have always worked for us. This year we changed our defenses a lot more within the game, playing zone every game,” Becker said. “We have three or four different things we can do. We are rotating those things throughout the game and sticking with the ones that are working."

And the Cats have found a rhythm with it.

“We have a couple ways to play man, how we are guarding ball-screens specifically. With zone, like anything, the more we have played it, it’s gotten better,” Becker said. “We have stuck with it and guys are much more comfortable with it.”

It still comes down to communication, O’Day said.

“I’d say the biggest reason is getting on the same page and talking on defense and listening to each other,” O’Day said. “It’s put us in good spots defensively.”

As UVM appears to have solved its defensive issues, the offense finished the year atop league leaders in field-goal percentage (.48) and 3-point field goal percentage (.38).

Redshirt freshman Ernie Duncan played his best game of the season at Stony Brook –– with strong takes to the basket and hot perimeter shooting –– while sophomores Cam Ward and Trae Bell-Haynes each have hit late, momentum-swinging shots from distance in recent games.

Another sophomore, Drew Urquhart collected seven points and six rebounds in 15 key minutes against the Seawolves. And O'Day and Kurt Steidl have found another level for much of league play.

In other words, the Cats have answered their coach's challenge.

"This past week was a big week. We had a lot to prove to ourselves and we knew we needed to do better against the top-half of the league," Becker said. "I feel a lot better going into this tournament, that we can compete with the better teams in our league, home or away."

With a victory Wednesday, UVM will reach the 20-win mark for the eight straight season.

Tip-ins: Injured when he fell on his hip in the first half at Stony Brook, junior guard Dre Wills will be a game-time decision, Becker said. .. Duncan was named the league rookie of the week after matching his career-high of 23 points in the win at Stony Brook. .. Since starting 4-4 in league play, Maine has lost eight in a row, a losing streak that began with UVM handing the Black Bears an 85-68 defeat Feb. 3. ... Freshman Issac Vann leads the Black Bears in scoring (15.8 ppg).